Adjustable safety ship-staircase.



L. C. LOWDER. ADJUSTABLE SAFETY SHIP STAIRCASE.

APiLICATlON FILED FEB. 2!, l9l8.

Patented Nov. 12, 1918.

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L. C. LOWDER.

ADJUSTABLE SAFETY SHIP STAIRCASE- 7 APPLICATION FILED FEB. 2K, l9l8. 15284327. Patented'Nov. 12, 1918.

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L. C. LOWDER.

ADJUSTABLE SAFETY SHIP STAIRCASE.

APPLICATION FlLED FEB. 21, I918.

Patented Nov. 12, 1918.

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IIILIJIAN CROCKETT LOWDER, 0F INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA.

ADJUSTABLE SAFETY SHIP-STAIRCASE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 12, 1918.

Application filed February 21, 1918. Serial No. 218,517.

To all whomit may concern:

Be it known that I, LILLIAN CRooKn'r'r Lownnn, a citizen of the United States, residing at Indianapolis, in the county of Marion and State of Indiana. have invented a new and useful Adjustable Safety Ship- Staircase, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings and to the letters and figures of reference marked thereon.

This invention relates to a staircase that is adjustable in a rotary direction and has reference more particularly to a rotatively adjustable staircase that is adapted to be automatically adjusted.

An object of the invention is to provide a ship or boat, or other vessel that may be devised for carrying people, which in operation may dip or tilt from its normal position, with a staircase or staircases of such construction as to be adapted to be turned to such position as to permit the people to safely use the steps without being liable to slip off of the fronts or the ends of the steps when th vessel is in an abnormal position.

Another and particular object is to provide war ships and transport vessels with safety staircases which shall be so adjustable as to permit troops and other people to at all times conveniently ascend or descend in the usual manner from one to another deck of the vessel, whether the vessel is on an even keel or is rolling, listing or tilting in either the forward or reverse or other direction while about to sink; the purpose of such adjustable staircases being in the interest of humanity through the provision of means whereby the people may be assured of facilities for reaching the life-boat stations in case the vessel is suddenly damaged so as to be caused to tilt or list.

A further object is to provide a rotary or revolving staircase having an overbalanced structure with the overbalancing weight so distributed as to descend by the force of gravity relatively to an inclined deck and cause the foot of the staircase to ascend relatively to the inclination of the deck as the latter becomes inclined relatively to the horizontal.

A still further object is to provide simple and reliable means whereby to latch and hold an adjustable safety staircase of the abo e-mentioned character.

With the above-mentioned and other objects in view, the invention consists in a rotatable staircase of such construction as to have a preponderance of its weight on one side of its axis of rotation, to cause partial rotation of the structure on inclination of the axis of rotation. The invention consists also further in the particular structure and parts and combinations of parts as hereinafter particularly described and further defined in the accompanying claims.

Referring to the drawings,Figure 1 is a fragmentary sectional elevation of a ship provided with a simple form of the safety staircase, the ship being listed or tilted and the staircase turned from the usual longitudinal arrangement on the ship and so as to be safely used; Fig. 2 is a vertical central section of the adjustable staircase in its relation with two decks of the ship; Fig. 3 is a top plan of the staircase; Fig. 4 is an inverted sectional plan approximately on the line IVIV on Fig. 2; Fig. 5 is a fragmentary sectional plan on the line V-V on Fig. 2; Fig. 6 is a sectional plan approximately on the line VIV I on Fig. 2; Fig. 7 is a fragmentary section showing a portion of Fig. 2 on an enlarged scale; Fig. 8 is a sectional elevation of the adjustable staircase in a modified and improved form comprising a plurality of sets of stairs and shown in tilted position; Fig. 9 is a sectional plan of the improved staircase approximately in the line IXIX on Fig. 8; and, Fig. 10 is a the improved staircase approximately on the line X-X on Fig. 9.

In the different figures of the drawings like reference characters indicate like elements or features herein particularly referred to.

For the purpose of explaining the con-t struction and mode of operation of the improved staircase it is shown in the interest of clearness on a large scale in proportion to a ship of which the hull 1 and decks 2 and 3 are familiar features and variously constructed, the ship or vessel being seen as floating in water on which 4 and 4 indicate the surface corresponding approximately to a horizontal plane.

In its preferred form of construction the staircase is adapted to be mounted upon one deck 2 of the ship or vessel without requiring alteration of the deck, the staircase'extending through a suitable opening which must be made in the higher deck 8, which may be the life boat deck, and being preferably guided in the opening. The staircase prefin i erably is supported and guided rotatably by means of a circular rail or track and rollers or wheels; and, to this end a horizontal circular rail 5 is provided and secured to the deck 2 and has a guide rail 6 on its outer edge, the top of the rail 6 having a guard rail 7 thereon. extending above the rail A circular rack-bar or toothed latch bar 8 is provided which is secured to the deck. The staircase has a suitable base which comprises a circular frame member 9 provided with a suitable number of carrying wheels 10, 10 that are arranged upon the rail 5, below the rail 7, and also a suitable number of guide rollers 11, 11 which are arranged to roll in contact with the guide rail 6. The frame member has a suitable top 12 of suitable size to constitute a platfori'n and preferably has a downward extending flange 13 adjacent to its edge to inclose the tracks and the rack bar. iVith such construction one portion of the top 12 serves as a first step of the staircase above the deck. llhe deck 3 has a circular opening 14:, therein, and the under portion of the deck adjacent to the opening is provided with a. frame ring 15 which has a suitable number of guide rollers 16, 16 mounted thereon, the rollers extending through suitable apertures in the ring. A suitable number of frame posts 17, 18, 19, 20, are mounted upon the base of the staircase and support a frame ring 21 which is guided by the rollers 16, 16. A pair of stair beams and 23 are mounted on the base top 12 back from one portion of the edge thereof, being seated adjacent to the bottoms of the posts 17, 19, and they extend upward at a suitable inclination into the guide ring 21 to the upper portions of the posts 18 and 20. The inclined members 22 and support a bottom step 24; and intermediate steps 2%, a top step or landing 25 being arranged at the upper ends of the members on'the plane of the upper deck 3. The stair structure is provided with suitable balusters 26 and 2?. A railing 28 is connected with the upper ends of the balusters and extends around about the frame ring 21 to prevent people from falling from the deck 3 through the opening 1% therein, and preferably the frame ring 21 supports platform portions 29 and 30 to practically close the opening excepting above the stairs. A guard and guide railing or fence 31 is connected with the lower portion of the balusters and extends around about the edge of the top 12 of the stairway base, As will be seen, the stair structure crosses the normal geometrical axis or axis of rotation of the staircase, the foot of the stairs being on one side of the axis, and for the purpose of the invention the staircase has a preponderance of weight on the opposite side of its axis which in the present case is accomplished by means of a suitable the intermediate platform hr weight element 32 arranged beneath the top 12 and inside of the flange 18, so as to be below the upper portion of the stairs, and in some cases an additional weight element 33 is supported beneath the top landing so as to overbalance the staircase and cause automatic rotatory adjustment thereof.

F or the purpose of preventing undesirable rotatory movement of the staircase when the ship or vessel is on an even keel or moving under usual conditions a latch lever 3% is pivotally connected to a pivot stand 35 which is secured to the base of the staircase, the lever having an arm 36 to which a latch bolt 37 is connected that is suitably guided to engage the rack-bar 8, the latch bolt conveniently extending through a suitable opening in the weight element 32. lhe lever 3 t leans outwardly and by the force of gravity holds the latch bolt in operative position but may be pushed inward beyond the vertical so as to lean in the opposite direction and withdraw and hold the latch bolt in retracted position.

In some cases the deck 3 may be farther above the deck 2 than in other cases, and in order that the staircase may be constructed to occupy the minimum floor snare a plurality of sets or flights of stairs and also an intermediate landing platform are provided, the platform having portions adapted tc constitute steps when required, as illustrated in 8, 9, and 10. The platform is supported by the aboveanentioned posts and has an opening therein for the accomodation of the lower one of the flights of stairs, leaving landing portions 38 and 38. A pair of stair beams or members 89 and d0 are seated as above-mentioned upon the base of the staircase and extend upward at an inclination to the landing portion 38, being provided with steps etl, il and also balusters 42 and d3. A pair of stair beams or members and have their lower ends seated at the landing portion 38 and they extend upward at 'n: lination to the landing and support steps e6, -l6 Wlllvll are provider. with balusters Q and 18. The landing portion is below the landing and the lower step being above the lower step 41 of the lower stairs, the intermediate platform is provided with gangways for the passage of people between the landing po 'icn do a d i portion 3c. f' iince the listing or ti of the vessel might cause the gangways to be inlined so much as to prevent people from ascending them the gangways are co 'ructcd of adjustable se tions adapted to constitute steps vhen the gangways are inclined as result of. the automatic adjustment of the complete staircase strniture, for which purpose supporting rails or beams L9 and for one set of sections and similar members 49 and 50 for the remaining set of sections. A suitable number of floor sections 51, 51 are arranged on the plane of the landing portions 88 and 38 so as to be on one side of the stair structures, another set. of sections'52, 52 being likewise arranged on the opposite side of the stair structures. Each floor section'is provided with a pair of trunnions 53 and also a controlling arm 54, the trunnions being suitably journaled-on the supporting rails provided for the purpose. A connecting rod 55 is pivotally connected with the arms of one set of floor sections, a similar rod 55" being connected with the arms of the other set of sections. Each floor section has a downward extending lip 56 which takes the place of a step riser when the floor sections are adjusted toconstitute 'stairsteps. A shaft 57 is rotatively mounted below the landing 38 and has arms 58 and 59 thereon which are connected with the rods 55 and 55 respectively, a latch lever 60 being secured to the shaft57 to be latched in connection with a quadrant 61 supported below the landing 38. The lever 60 is conveniently arranged above the lever 3% so that both levers may be operated simulta-- neously by one man whose duty it may be to attend the staircase. The landing 38 is provided with an outer railing 62 and the landing 88 is provided with a railing 6 3, both railings being connected with a railing 64: adjacentto the outer ends of the floor or step sections 51, 51, the landing railing being connected also with a railing 65 arranged adjacent to the outer ends of the sections 52, 52". A, railing 66 is arranged adjacent to the inner ends of one of the sets of floor sections and a similar railing 67 is arranged adjacent to the inner ends of the remaining set of floor or step sections. When the ship or vessel is aright or 011 an even keel the passengers may readily walk across the floor sections, as on a smooth floor between the landings 3S and 38, the sections being prevented by the latch lever 60 from being tilted or disarranged.

The improved staircase may be installed instead of the usual stationary staircase, or in addition thereto, and when installed solely as a safety appliance may be steeper than stairs intended for general use, and may be located in openings where light or ventilation is desired.

'In practical usethe safety stairway is preferably adjusted so as to extend longi-- tudinally with respect to, the ship or vessel and ma or may not be latched in such position, but should ordiiiarilybe latched, and the lever '60 also should be latched to cause the step or floor sections 52, 2 to liefiatwise. In case the ship or vessel is seriously damaged by a torpedo, as a result of a colmight be tilted forward to such a degreeas to cause the people to slip downward when attempting to climb upward. But, with the adjustable staircase the latch lever 34 and the lever 60 may be quickly thrown over, and in case the staircase base does not at once swing around because it may happen to be in such position as 'to not be affected by the force of tendant may easily start it to turning and leave it to gravitate to the desired position to bring the forward edge of each step tread upward or higher relatively than the rear portion of the tread, as seen in Figs. 1 and 8, the sections 52 being in projected position to constitute steps, so thatthe troops, ship crew or passengers shall not be pre vented from ascending or descending to the life boat station but may if need be'walk upon the forward edges of the step treads, the risers of the steps preventing their feet from slipping under the step treads. After the staircase is adjusted to safety position, it will automatically retain its proper position by the force of gravity, of the ship or vessel remaining the same as is usual, but if desired the staircase may be readily latched. Thus all above the life boat deck may be enabled to save their lives by being enabled to safely reach the life boats.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is 1. An adjustable ship-staircase including a rotatable base having a stair structure thereon extending at an inclination across the geometrical axis of rotation of the base. 2. An adjustable ship-staircase including a rotatable stair structure having steps thereon extending collectively across the geometrical axis of rotation of the structure,

gravity, the atand means for locking the structurefagainst rotation.

3. An adjustable shipstaircase including an inclined stair structure having steps and provided with a rotatable base supporting the foot end of the structure on one side of the axis of rotation of the base, the base having means supporting the head end of the structure on the opposite side'of the axis.

4:. An ad'ustable shi rstaircase rotatablv supported and provided on one side'of its of rotation opposite to the bottom step of the staircase with a preponderance of weight to automatically rotatethe staircase when its axis of rotation becomes inclined and tilt the foot of the staircase upwardly the list or pitch people below or relatively to the upper portion of the staircase.

An adjustable ship-staircase including a rotatable stair structure provided with means automatically acting, on inclination of the axis of rotation of the stair structure, to move the foot of the stairs of the structure upward to a position above the upper side of the inclined axis of rotation of the stair structure.

6. An adjustable ship-staircase including a rotatable base, an inclined stair structure having its foot end supported on the base on one side of the axis of rotation thereof, a weight element carried by the base on the opposite side of the axis of rotation thereof, and means supported by the base and support-ing the head end of the stair structure.

7. An adjustable ship-staircase including a rotatable frame having two stair structures thereon and arranged one above the other and inclined in one and the same direction, the frame having also a platform extending from the upper end of the lower stair structure to the lower end of the upper stair structure and provided with adjustable floor sections adapted to be tilted to constitute stair steps on the platform.

8. An automatically adjustable ship-staircase including a rotatable stair structure having steps thereon extending collectively across the geometrical axis of rotation of the structure, and means automatically acting on inclination of the axis of rotation, to rotat-e the staircase to bring and hold the foot of the stair structure to one side and above the axis and the head of the structure below the axis on the opposite side thereof.

9. An adjustable ship-staircase including a rotary frame, means for rotatably supporting and guiding the lower portion of the frame, means for rotatably guiding the up per portion of the frame, a stair structure mounted in the frame and extending at an inclination across the geometrical axis of rotation of the frame, a weight element carried. by the frame below the upper portion of the stair structure on one side of the of rotation of the frame, a latch bolt and means for operating it carried by the frame, and a circular rack-bar to be engaged by the latch bolt.

10. An adjustable shipstaircase including a rotary frame, means for rotatably supporting the frame, a platform supported in the frame and havin an opening therein and also a gangway on each side of the opening,

each gangway having a floor comprising pivotally-supported sections adapted to be adjusted to constitute stair steps and provided each with a controlling arm, a latch lever supported by the frame, means for operatively connecting the arms of all the sections with the latch lever, a stair structure mounted in the frame and extending to the platform at one end of the opening therein, and a stair structure mounted in the frame and extending from the opposite end of the opening in the frame.

11. The combination with a lower deck, and a relatively higher deck of a ship having an opening therein, of a frame rotatably supported by the lower deck and guided in the opening in the higher deck, the frame having an overbalancing weight on one side of its axis of rotation, and a stair structure having its foot end supported by the frame on the opposite side of the axis adjacent to the lower deck, the stair structure extending upwardly at an inclination across the axis of rotation to the higher deck.

12. The combination with a lower deck of a ship, and a relatively higher deck having an opening therein, of a frame rotatably supported by the lower deck and guided in the opening in the higher deck, the frame having a stair structure therein extending from the lower deck on one side of the axis of rotation of the frame and to the higher deck on the opposite side of the axis, and an overbalancing weight carried by the frame below the upper portion of the stair structure.

13. The combination with a lower deck of a ship, and a relatively higher deck having an opening therein, of a stair structure extending from the lower deck at an inclination through the opening in the higher deck and provided with a supporting frame rotatably supported by the lower deck, the frame directly supporting the foot end of the stair structure on one side and the higher end of the structure on the opposite side of the axis of rotation of the frame, and an overbalancing weight carried by the frame below the higher end of the stair structure.

14. In an adjustable staircase, the combination of a base, means for rotatably supporting and guiding the base, a stair structure supported at its foot end on the base adj accnt to one edge portion thereof and extending upward at an inclination above the base, and a support carried by the base adj acent to the opposite edge portion thereof and supporting the upper portion of the stair structure.

15. In an adjustable staircase, the combination with a deck, of a circular track rail and a circular guide rail secured upon the deck, a. base having wheels supported on the track rail and rollers guided on the guide rail, the base having also an upright support thereon, and a stair structure secured to the base and the upright support.

16. In an adjustable staircase, the combination with an upper deck having an opening therein, and a lower deck below the upper deck, of a base rotatably supported by the lower deck and having a framework thereon, a guide ring mounted on the frame- Work at the opening in the upper deck, rollers supported by the upper deck in guiding arrangement with the guide ring, and a stair structure having steps and mounted upon the base approximately below one portion of the guide ring and extending upwardly to an opposite portion of the guide rin and supported by the ring.

1 In an adjustable staircase, the combination with an upper deck having an opening therein, anda lower deck below the upper deck, of a frame rotatably supported by the lower deck and guided in the opening in the upper deck, a stair structure mounted in the frame, an annular rack-bar extending concentrically to the axis of rotation of the frame and secured to the lower deck, and a latch mounted on the frame to be moved to or from the rack-bar, the latch being provided with a controlling lever.

18. In an adjustable staircase, the combination with an upper deck having an opening therein, and a lower deck below the upper deck, of a frame rotatably supported by the lower deck and guided in the opening in the upper deck and having a platform therein provided with two gangways, each gangway having adjustable floor sections pivotally supported to lie flat or to be turned over to constitute steps, a controlling lever having operative connection with all the floor sections, a stair structure mounted in the frame below the platform, and a stair structure mounted in the frame above the platform.

In testimony whereof, I affix my signature n in presence of two witnesses.

LILLIAN CROCKETT LOWDER.

Witnesses:

, OSCAR L. CHAMNEss,

E. T. SILVIUS.

Copies 01' this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. G. 

